Unit of competency Outline

Date retreived
22/07/2026 9:02 PM AWST

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Apply principles of wound management in the clinical environment

Apply principles of wound management in the clinical environment

Unit of competency
National Code
HLTENN006
State Code
AWA11
TGA Status
Replaced
DTWD Status
Replaced
Current Release Number
1.00
Current Release Date
08/12/2015
View on TGA
State Implementation and Classification
Approved Date
22/06/2016
Field of Education
060301 - General Nursing
Original Release Date
22/06/2016
Nominal Hours
50
Description
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to apply contemporary wound management principles to the care of various types of wounds. It involves working with the interdisciplinary health care team to contribute to assessment, treatment and ongoing management of a person’s wounds. This unit applies to enrolled nursing work carried out in consultation and collaboration with registered nurses, and under supervisory arrangements aligned to the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia regulatory authority legislative requirements. The skills in this unit must be applied in accordance with Commonwealth and State/Territory legislation, Australian/New Zealand standards and industry codes of practice.
Notes
Elements and Performance Criteria
1. Apply protocols for wound assessment.
  • 1.1 Use appropriate medical terminology when assessing, reporting and recording data on wounds.
  • 1.2 Use strategies to minimise cross-infection during assessment and implementation of wound management strategies.
  • 1.3 Observe orders and instructions relating to non-disturbance of dressings.
2. Assess impact of wound on a person, family or carer.
  • 2.1 Assist in performing holistic assessment of the person with a wound.
  • 2.2 Apply knowledge of the physiological and biochemical processes associated with normal wound healing when assessing the person’s wound.
  • 2.3 Consider factors that impact on wound healing, including psychosocial impact of a wound on the person’s daily living activities.
  • 2.4 Consider common problems and complications of wounds when assessing the person’s wound.
  • 2.5 Discuss modes of transmission of infection and infection development with the person, family or carer.
3. Contribute to planning care for a person with a wound.
  • 3.1 Consider primary health care principles and holistic approaches when planning care for the person with a wound.
  • 3.2 Access wound care experts to assist in decision-making for wound care management.
  • 3.3 Maintain current knowledge and use an evidence-based and problem-solving approach in contributing to analysis and planning of appropriate wound care management strategies.
  • 3.4 Contribute to an individual wound management plan for the person in consultation and collaboration with the person, registered nurse and the interdisciplinary health care team.
  • 3.5 Discuss preventative wound care strategies with the person, family or carer.
  • 3.6 Identify the person’s comfort needs such as pain relief in consultation with registered nurse before undertaking wound care.
4. Undertake clinical nursing care in implementing wound care strategies.
  • 4.1 Use contemporary assessment tools accurately.
  • 4.2 Implement wound care strategies, taking into account legislation and organisation policy and procedures.
  • 4.3 In consultation and collaboration with the interdisciplinary health care team, identify wound management products and techniques appropriate to the identified phase of wound healing, and collect all resources required for the procedure.
  • 4.4 Collect specimens required for microbiology and cytology according to organisation policy and procedures.
  • 4.5 Dispose of all articles including hazardous waste appropriately according to organisation policy and procedures.
  • 4.6 Make the person comfortable, and complete required documentation.
5. Apply contemporary wound management strategies to complex or challenging wounds.
  • 5.1 Apply knowledge of wound complexity and the pathological processes of wound healing for complex or challenging wounds
  • 5.2 Identify common problems and complications of complex and challenging wounds.
  • 5.3 Follow aseptic technique for a clean surgical wound and use infection prevention techniques appropriate to the type of wound.
  • 5.4 Remove sutures, clips and drains from a person and replace wound drainage bag as directed by a registered nurse.
  • 5.5 Implement appropriate contemporary wound management strategies to manage the person’s complex or challenging wounds.
  • 5.6 Participate with the interdisciplinary health care team in making an assessment of the person with a complex or challenging wound within an holistic framework.
  • 5.7 Create and review individualised plans of care for the person with a complex or challenging wound.
6. Assist in evaluating outcomes of nursing actions.
  • 6.1 Ensure involvement of the person in the evaluation process.
  • 6.2 Monitor the person’s response to wound management strategies, and their progress towards planned wound management goals.
  • 6.3 Evaluate, document and communicate progress of wound healing and wound care strategy outcomes to the appropriate members of the interdisciplinary health care team using contemporary terminology.
  • 6.4 Assist in assessing effectiveness of the person’s wound management strategies and products used.
  • 6.5 Modify wound management strategies, procedures and goals for the individual person.
  • 6.6 Work within a cost effective framework.
  • 6.7 Identify and plan health education and promotion strategies for the person in consultation and collaboration with the registered nurse.
No information
No information
Replaces
State Code National Code Title Type
D8211 HLTEN506B Apply principles of wound management in the clinical environment Unit of competency
Replaced By
State Code National Code Title Type
ODI96 HLTENN039 Apply principles of wound management Unit of competency
State Code National Code Title Type
AYZ3 HLT54115 Diploma of Nursing Qualification